Carrying device for gabled carton



May 21, '1968 w. E. HID DING CARRYING DEVICE FOR GABLED CARTON 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 14, 1966 May 21, 1968 w. E. HIDDING CARRYING DEVICE FOR GABLED CARTON 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 14, 1966 w E E United States Patent 3,384,292 CARRYING DEVICE FOR GABLED CARTON Walter E. Hidding, 505 Banbury Road, Addison, Ill. 60101 Filed Oct. 14, 1966, Ser. No. 586,850 9 Claims. (Cl. 22952) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A carrying device for gabled cartons having a plate member which is adapted to be affixed to the container ridgepiece, a generally rectangular pad aligned with the plate member, and flexible arms connecting each end of the plate member to the pad. According to the features of the invention, the grippable pad has a first edge adjacent the mounting plate and a second edge generally remote therefrom, the flexible arms being connected to the pad at the remote edge and away from the adjacent edge to situate the connections between the pads and the arms away from the longitudinal mid-line of the pad. In addition, the mounting plate is longitudinally slotted and carries spaced ribs to develop a strong and efiicient attachment to the container. Furthermore, the carrying device is selectively ribbed and thickened to promote strength and a controlled degree of inelasticity.

This invention relates generally to carrying devices and more particularly to carrying devices for gabled cartons.

In the past, provision of a simple and inexpensive but durable handle for gabled cartons has been thwarted by the general construction of the upper end or top of such a container. The smooth sloping faces afford no access for a gripping attachment, and the ridgepiece offers only slightly better possiblities. The site presenting the 'best mounting potential is the gabled ends, but attachment here requires a long connecting strap that is not always compatible with subsequent handling procedures. Mounting of a handle on the ridgepiece has also been attempted heretofore. However, the handles for such attachment have been flimsy when arranged to fold down against the carton or rigidly upstanding into an inconvenient position when strong.

Therefore, an important object of the present invention is to provide a flexible, durable carrying device which is arranged for attachment to the ridgepiece of a gabled carton.

A more general object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved carrying device for gabled cartons.

Another object of the invention is to provide a carrying devices for gabled cartons in which the grip portion is naturally biased to lie along one sloping face of the carton when the carrying device has been secured to the ridgepiece.

Still another object of the invention is to provide such a carrying device which has a controlled degree of inelasticity so that, after the device is first put into use in lifting or carrying a carton, the grip portion returns to a readily accessible position generally at or above the plane of the ridgepiece.

And still another object of the invention is to provide means for developing unusual strength in a thin, generally flat, flexible carrying device.

A further object of the invention is to provide a carrying device that is easily handled in automatic equipment.

And a further object of the invention is to provide a carrying device which resists tangling when stacked or jumbled.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a carrying device for gabled cartons which is comfortable to use.

A yet further object of the invention is to provide a carrying device that is easily attached to the ridgepiece of a gabled carton.

These and other objects and features of the invention will be come more apparent from a consideration of the following descriptions.

The invention, both as to its structure and its mode of operation, will be better understood by reference to the following disclosure and drawings forming a part thereof, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a gabled carton to which there has been attached a carrying device constructed in compliance with the invention, the grip portion of the carrying device being shown in the position that it naturally tends to take after attachment to the carton and before being lifted into carrying position the first time;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged view taken substantially along the line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view similar to the showing of FIG. 1 but illustrating the carrying device being gripped and raised into carton-lifting position;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged view taken along the line 4-4 of FIG. 3, FIG. 4 additionally showing, in broken outline, the return position of the grip portion wherein it resides generally at or above the level of the ridgepiece of the carton;

FIGS. 5 and 6 are views similar to the showing of FIG. 4 illustrating the ease ofl access of the gripping portion from either side of the ridgepiece;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged, plan view of the carrying devlce of FIGS. 1-6 shown in the as molded or unassembled state;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged sectional view taken along the line 8-8 of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a top plan view of the carrying device of the invention shown attached to the ridgepiece of a gabled carton;

FIG. 10 is a side elevational view of the arrangement of FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is an enlarged sectional view taken substantially along the line 1111 of FIG. 7;

FIG. 12 is an enlarged sectional view taken along the line 1212 of FIG. 7;

FIG. 13 is an enlarged sectional view taken substantially along the line 1313 of FIG. 10; and

FIG. 14 is a perspective view of the carton and carrying device of FIG. 1 with the carton opened for pouring and with the carrying device twisted to transverse position to facilitate the carrying operation.

Referring now in detail to the drawing, specifically to FIGS. 7 and 8, a carrying device 20 is constructed in compliance with the invention to comprise a mounting arrangement 22, a grip arrangement 24 and a pair of flexible arms 26 and 28 which connect corresponding ends of the mounting and grip arrangements. The mounting arrangement 22 includes a plate member 30 which is fashioned with a longitudinal slot 32, slot 32 defining an axis for folding the plate member 30.

In addition, the mounting arrangement 22 includes confronting pairs of L-shaped ribs 34 and 36 which are raised from the surface of the plate member 30 on opposite sides of slot 32 and on opposite faces of the plate member 30 to define a stitchable land 38 on each side of the slot 32. It is recognized that the transverse bars forming the feet of the ribs 34 and 36 may be integrated with either a continuous or a discontinuous rib arrangement tracing the edge of plate member 30.

The grip arrangement 24 includes a thin rectangular pad 40 that is aligned generally parallel with the slot 32.

The pad 40 has a first lateral edge 42 that is disposed generally adjacent the plate member 34) and a second lateral edge 44 which is disposed generally remote from the plate member. Transverse ribs 46 are raised from each side of the'pad 40 in longitudinally spaced positions so that, when the carrying device 20 is fabricated in a plastics molding operation, the material will fiow and fill the mold insuring uniform thickness in the pad 40.

In compliance With the features of the invention, the arms 26 and 28 extend from their connection with the plate member 30 at regions adjacent the opposite ends of slot 32 to proceed from these points of connection at similar oblique angles with respect to the longitudinal axis of the slot. The arms 26 and 28 then merge with the pad 49 adjacent the remote edge 44. More specifically, each of the flexible arms 26 and 28 comprises a short connecting portion 48 adjacent the plate member 30, an angulated medial portion 59 and a curved portion 52 which connects with the pad 40. The angulation of the arms 26 and 28 serves to keep the grip arrangement and the arms themselves out of contaminating relationship with the pouring spout of a carton when the carton has been opened for use.

In compliance with another feature of the present invention, the carrying device 20 includes a pair of generally parallel endless ribs, an outer endless rib 54 which traverses the remote edge 44 of pad 40, each of the arms 26 and 28 and one edge of the slot 32 and an inner endless rib 56 of slightly lesser overall length than rib 54. Rib 56 is arranged to traverse the adjacent edge 42 of pad 40, each of the arms 26 and 28 and the opposite edge of slot 32. These ribs are raised from opposite sides of the part generally at edge portions thereof forming reinforcing beads of substantiallly circular section to develop strength and toughness in the part. Where the ribs 54 and 56 traverse the plate member 30 adjacent the ends of slot 32, they are spaced apart to straddle the projected longitudinal axis of the slot. So disposed, the ribs 54 and 56 facilitates folding of the plate member 30 about this longitudinal axis for attachment to the edge piece of a gabled carton and, in addition, act to distribute the tensile forces arising from lifting and carrying a filled carton to the L-shaped ribs 34 and 36 and to the stitchable lands 38. Moreover, attachment of the arms 26 and 28 to the pad 40 adjacent the remote edge 44 tends to equalize the lengths of the ribs 54 and 56 while still keeping them of dissimilar length and thereby cooperates with the ribs 54 and 56 to resist twisting of the pad 40 when it has been grasped.

In accordance with another important feature of the invention, the curved portions 52 of flexible arms 26 and 28 are provided in greater thickness than the other planar sections of the carrying device 20. This is apparent upon comparing FIGS. 11 and 12 which are cross-sections taken, respectively, through a curved portion 52 and through the pad 40. This thickening of the material in the curved portions 52 not only develops exceptional strength at particularly stressed areas, but also promotes a controlled degree of inelasticity or irreversible reaction to stress. This inelasticity promotes a desirable positioning of the gripping pad 40 in a position at or above the level of a carton ridgepiece after the carrying device has once been tensioned in lifting or carrying a filled carton. The controlled inelasticity which develops this desirable reaction is further promoted by the presence of the continuous ribs 54 and 56 at the juncture of angulated portion and connecting portion 48 of each flexible arm. The strength which is concomitantly developed by the thickness of curved portions 52 and the traversing ribs at the aforesaid juncture permits a twisting distortion of the handle device into a position transverse of the ridgepiece of a gabled carton, as is shown in FIG. 14, in order that the carrying device may be used in providing assistance in pouring from the gabled carton. The connecting portions 48 may also be thickened in this manner.

The carrying device 20 is advantageously fabricated in a plastics molding operation so that the mounting arrangement 22, the grip arrangement 24 and the flexible arms 26 and 28 may be made integral and formed in an initially planar condition. Flexible polymeric materials of various types may be employed in this regard; and such comparatively stiff, thermoplastic resins as linear polyethylene and polypropylene are preferred because they exhibit a partially inelastic reaction to stress. Accordingly, these latter materials cooperate with the described structure in initially disposing the pad 40 in a downward position generally adjacent the top of a carton and in a position subsequent the first use at or above the level of the carton ridgepiece. Forming the carrying device 20 in an initially planar condition and then mounting it symmetrically on a carton ridgepiece promotes a biasing of the pad 40 into a generally horizontal condition in the ungrasped state.

Referring to FIGS. 10 and 13, the carrying device 20 is generally intended to be secured to the ridgepiece of a gabled carton 60 having a vertically upstanding ridgepiece 62. More specifically, the plate member 30 is intended to be folded along the longitudinal axis of slot 32 so that the plate member may straddle the ridgepiece 62. With the plate member 30 so disposed, a staple 64 is employed in making the attachment. In particular, the material of staple 64 penetrates in succession the material of one of the lands 38, the material of ridgepiece 62 and the material of the other land 38. Considering FIG. 9, the staple 64 is seen to comprise a bight 66 and ends 68 and 70. To form a clamping-type of fastening, of the type shown in FIG. 9, the tips of the ends 68 and 70 are desirably turned back into the material of the corresponding land 38, but not necessarily completely through that material. Whereas a staple is illustrated, other types of fasteners may be employed in securing the carrying device 20 to the ridgepiece 32. Cotton .or glass fiber thread or wire may be used in stitching the mounting arrangement 22 in place; and even rivets may be employed.

Having described the construction and fabrication of the illustrated embodiment of the invention, together with one mode of attachment to the cooperating gabled carton, it will be valuable now to describe the behavior of the carrying device in use.

In FIGS. 1 and 2, the carrying device is illustrated in the position which it assumes after attachment to the gabled carton and before being manipulated for the first time. In this position, the pad 40 resides below the top of ridgepiece 62 and generally alongside the ridgepiece and an adjacent sloping face of the carton. So disposed, the carrying device is not prone to interfere with the operation of casing equipment of either the clamp or slide types, even so it is in a position where the tips of the fingers can he easily slipped beneath the pad 46 for an initial grasping.

In FIGS. 3 and 4, the first grasping and lifting of the carton using the carrying device 20 is suggested; and it will be noted that the pad 40 takes a generally horizontal configuration, residing comfortably over the fingers of a partially closed hand. The position which the carrying device tends to assume after this first lifting is suggested in broken outline in FIG. 4. In this latter position, the pad 40 resides at or slightly above the level of the upper edge of ridgepiece 62. So disposed, the carrying device can be grasped from either side of the ridgepiece as is shown in FIGS. 5 and 6. In addition to the positions which the pad 40 of the carrying device is arranged to assume after attachment and after first being tensioned, it can be readily twisted to take a position transverse the ridgepiece 62 as is shown in FIG. 14. Upon release of such position, the handle returns generally to the configuration shown generally in broken outline in FIG. 4. Furthermore, angulation of the flexible arms 26 and 28 situates the pad 40 and the arms themselves generally away from the spout of the carton so as not to establish a potential source of contamination for the lips of the spout.

Folding of the plate member 30 into a position straddling the ridgepiece 62 promotes a strong attachment of the carrying device to the carton and balances the lifting and carrying forces; and as has been mentioned hereinabove, the slot 32 promotes this folding action. In addition, the slot 32 can be conveniently used to orient the carrying devices for automatic feeding in an attaching machine. The L-shaped ribs 34 and 36 have been previously described as lending strength to the plate member 30 and encouraging molding of an efiicient part. These ribs also act to hold the corners of the plate member relatively close to the ridgepiece 62 after the staple 62 has been applied.

The specific example herein shown and described is to be considered as being primarily illustrative. Various changes in structure will, no doubt, occur to those skilled in the art and such changes are to be understood as forming a part of this invention insofar as they fall within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

The invention is claimed as follows:

1. A carrying device comprising: mounting means including a plate member adapted to be affixed to the ridgepiece of a container to be carried; grip means including a generally rectangular pad aligned substantially parallel with said plate member and having a first edge generally adjacent said plate member, a second edge generally remote from said plate member and a width dimension measured from said first to said second edge; and a flexible ar-m connecting each end of said plate member to said pad, each of said arms being of lesser width than said pad at the juncture therewith and merging with said pad adjacent the remote edge thereof and generally away from said first edge to situate the connections between said arms and said pad generally laterally from the longitudinal mid-line of said pad and adjacent said remote edge where-by to promote resituation of said pad out of the plane of said arms to afford a generally horizontal gripping surface in the carrying configuration.

2. A carrying device according to claim 1 wherein said carrying device is of flexible polymeric material having a partially inelastic reaction to stress, whereby said pad tends to take an accessible position generally at or above the level of said ridgepiece after lifting stress has been applied to said carrying device.

3. A carrying device according to claim 1 which further comprises a first endless rib traversing the remote edge of said pad, each of said arms and said plate member; and a second endless rib of lesser overall length traversing said adjacent edge of said pad, each of said arms and said plate member.

4. A carrying device according to claim 3 wherein said arms include thickened portions adjacent said pad.

5. A one-piece carrying device for gabled car-tons having an upstanding ridgepiece, said device comprising: mounting means including a plate member of puncturable material having a longitudinal slot defining an axis for folding and including confronting pairs of L-shaped ribs raised from the surface of said plate member on opposite sides of said slot to define stitchable lands; grip means including a substantially rectangular pad aligned generally parallel with said slot; and flexible arms extending from opposite ends of said plate member to opposite ends of said pad, each of said arms merging with said plate member adjacent said slot and extending from said plate member at an oblique angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of said slot to merge with said pad.

6. A carrying device according to claim 5 which further comprises a first endless rib traversing the remote edge of said pad, each of said arms and one edge of said slot; and a second endless rib of lesser overall length traversing said adjacent edge of said pad, each of said arms and the opposite edge of said slot.

7. A carrying device according to claim 6 wherein said endless ribs are spaced apart where they traverse said plate member adjacent the ends of said slot whereby to promote folding of said plate member.

8. A carrying device according to claim 6 wherein said arms include thickened portions adjacent said pad and adjacent said plate member.

9. A one-piece carrying device for ga'bled cartons having an upstanding ridgepiece, said device comprising: mounting means including a plate member of punctur-able material including confronting pairs of L-shaped ribs raised from the surface of said plate member to define stitchable lands; grip means including a substantially rectangular pad; and flexible arms extending from opposite ends of said plate member to opposite ends of said pad, each of said arms merging with said plate member and extending from said plate member at an oblique angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of said plate member to merge with said pad.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,733,219 10/1929 Duvall 22952 2,041,375 5/1936 Schrnerler 22952 3,000,527 9/1961 Jennings et al. 215

JOSEPH R. LECLAIR, Primary Examiner.

R. PESHOCK, Assistant Examiner. 

